Preservation group seeks $700,000 for Mosely Homestead; county staff urges caution

Multiple speakers from the Timberly Trust presented a conceptual plan for the Mosely Homestead during public comment and later staff presented an analysis to the board.

Mark Proctor, chairman of the Timberly Trust, and Amy Carrie Lee, the trust's treasurer, described preservation, outreach, and fundraising work and said the trust's conceptual request is for $700,000 of CIP funds previously associated with the property (they said about $1.1 million had been the original allocation). "This is not an additional ask layered on top of priority support," Lee said, describing the request as a response to a county-planned exercise for remaining CIP funds.

Several preservation experts and volunteers—including Kay Sullivan and Lori Collins—spoke in support of the conceptual plan, emphasized stewardship and educational benefits, and noted the site's listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Speakers said the trust has leveraged grants and private donations, carries no long-term debt, and four board members had personally guaranteed a line of credit.

In a staff report later in the agenda (G.4), John Mullen reviewed the trust's financials and the trust's existing commitments. He said the trust has about $524,000 in public funding already approved and available to spend under prior agreements and that the requested $700,000 includes preservation work (~$250,000) and an interpretive center/archives (~$400,000–$500,000). Staff characterized the trust's projected five-fold revenue increase as "aggressive" and recommended delaying additional CIP disbursement until the trust completes the work under its current agreements and demonstrates revenue and attendance growth. "Based on our analysis, we are not suggesting any financial action today," Mullen said.

Commissioner Gwen Myers moved to receive the report and to require the Timberly Trust meet agreed deliverables by Feb. 18, 2028 before additional funds are considered; the board received the report and directed staff to monitor progress (motion carried 6-0).